Movies Like A Man Vanishes

If you liked A Man Vanishes (1967), a drama and documentary movie directed by Shōhei Imamura, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Life in a Day (2011)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and drama
A documentary shot by filmmakers all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010.
2
42 Up (1999)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.
3
Van Gogh: Painted with Words (2010)
★ 7.3/10Also drama and documentary
A drama-documentary presented by Alan Yentob, with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role. Every word spoken by the actors in this film is sourced from the letters that Van Gogh sent to his younger brother Theo, and of…
4
The Devil on Trial (2023)
★ 5.9/10Also documentary and drama
Explore the first – and only – time “demonic possession” has officially been used as a defense in a U.S. murder trial. Including firsthand accounts of alleged devil possession and a shocking murder, this extraordinary…
5
Louis Theroux: Twilight of the Porn Stars (2012)
★ 6.3/10Also documentary
In 1997, Louis Theroux made a documentary about the world of male porn performers in Los Angeles. 15 years later, he returns to find a business struggling with the deluge of free porn on the internet. Louis revisits…
6
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? (2021)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary
Lupita Nyong'o narrates a documentary about Peanuts and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. Famous fans—including Drew Barrymore, Kevin Smith, and Al Roker—share its influence on them, and a new animated story finds…
7
Love, Antosha (2019)
★ 7.4/10Also documentary
From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family…
8
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and drama
A close examination of the Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption of 2019 in which 22 lives were lost, the film viscerally recounts a day when ordinary people were called upon to do extraordinary things, placing…
9
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026)
★ 8.4/10Also documentary
Captured during Billie Eilish's sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.
10
Val (2021)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary
For over 40 years Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood's most mercurial and/or misunderstood actors, has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video. He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from 16mm…
11
Louis Theroux: Savile (2016)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary
Sixteen years after his documentary When Louis Met Jimmy, Theroux seeks to understand how he was tricked by a man who became his friend.
12
Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (2017)
★ 7.4/10Also documentary
A look at legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki following his retirement in 2013.
13
Einstein and the Bomb (2024)
★ 6.2/10Also documentary and drama
What happened after Einstein fled Nazi Germany? Using archival footage and his own words, this docudrama dives into the mind of a tortured genius.
14
35 Up (1991)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.
15
Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? (2013)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary
A series of interviews featuring linguist, philosopher and activist Noam Chomsky done in hand-drawn animation.
16
LCD Soundsystem: Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary
An intimate portrait of Brooklyn-based electronic rock band LCD Soundsystem's then-final live show on April 2, 2011, capturing both the exuberant, three-hour farewell concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden…
17
Adele One Night Only (2021)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
A primetime special with performances from the superstar including Adele’s first new material in six years plus her chart-topping hits. The special will also feature an exclusive interview with Adele by Oprah Winfrey…
18
American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary
Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.
19
4 Little Girls (1997)
★ 7.1/10Also documentary
On September 15, 1963, a bomb destroyed a black church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls who were there for Sunday school. It was a crime that shocked the nation--and a defining moment in the history of…
20
Murder in Monaco (2025)
★ 6.4/10Also documentary
Monaco, 1999. One of the world's richest men dies in his penthouse. This documentary unpacks the mysterious murder of billionaire banker, Edmond Safra.